The most convincing evidence of this: it's been more than six months since Bridesmaids hit theaters, but its steamrolling success continues. The cast has been nominated for SAG's best ensemble award--this is rare for a comedy, and still rarer for a female film. Which makes it all the cooler that ladies also ruled the drama side of the coin: another outstanding cast nod went to The Help.

I love what's going on in the lead-actress category: we've got Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs; Viola Davis in The Help; Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady; Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin and Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn.

Subtract the whopping amount of sex appeal that is Williams playing Marilyn Monroe for a second, and look at what we've got there. How satisfyingly ironic is it that, in a business where so much emphasis is placed on looks for young break-ins, the penultimate honors go to incredibly strong women over 40 playing, respectively, a man, a maid, a prim prime minister and a shattered mother? So don't fret over those first wrinkles, thirtysomethings--you're headed to a zone where they're mattering less and less.

Speaking of the next generation--i.e. the supporting actress nominees--they're like the industry's stealth bombers. While you're still learning their names (by the way, nominees Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer and Melissa McCarthy are all in our 2011 Breakout Celebrities story), they're stockpiling roles. You're going to see a lot more from all three of those ladies in the next year.

Meanwhile, the women of the small screen are killing it--and delivering to us more and more lasting, hall-of-fame characters. Case in point: drama lead actress nominee Julianna Margulies, whose Good Wife Alicia Florrick is officially closing in on icon status.

And you know what's even cooler than the fact that Jessica Lange already scored a nom for American Horror Story? The fact that *Jessica Lange is on TV every week.*So, SAG: though we're wondering where Parks & Recreation and Shailene Woodley are on this list, we'd still like you to accept a hearty high five from us--just be careful not to step on our Armani Prive train.